The forecast for this week is once again calling for relatively mild weather for this time of year, with few chances of precipitation of rain, snow, or a mix of both. It appears this weather will hold for the remainder of December and into the New Year, if not beyond. The opportunities for snow, at this time, do not indicate much in the way of accumulation.

“Ice conditions are becoming safer on most area lakes,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “with ice thickness from 4-10 inches, depending on the waterbody. Smaller lakes, shallower areas, and back bays of larger waters have safer ice for walking and fishing, and some four-wheelers and snowmobiles are traveling the lakes. As always, use caution, best judgment, and proper safety when venturing onto the ice.
“Anglers targeting shallower areas near shore report mixed success. Small suckers and shiners under tip-ups set over 5-8 feet are producing a mix of walleye, northern pike, and bass. Look for vegetation holding onto summer life and use minnows that reflect the size of the fish you are targeting.
“Crappie anglers using small jigs tipped with crappie minnows and small plastics are taking some nice fish in 16-18 feet. The best bite is from mid-afternoon hours into just before dark.
“Panfish are nearby as well, and anglers are catching a nice mix of bluegills and perch on small teardrop jigs tipped with waxies and soft plastics in and around 5-10 feet. It is important to stay quiet so you do not spook the fish, especially shallower, highly pressured fish. If you are not using a camera, use the low power mode on your electronics to quiet the transducer noise.”

Erik at Hayward Bait says the North Woods has fantastic weather, good ice – and the fish are biting.
“Anglers are taking advantage of the lack of snow and great fishing conditions to pull and drag ice shacks and gear on the ice. The current ice depth is about 6-8 inches, with some reports of upwards to 10 inches, and some folks are taking out ATVs, UTVs, and sleds while ice fishing.
“Walleye anglers report most of the action is during the early morning and last light evening hours. The best baits and presentations include jigging spoons, Jigging Raps, Hyper-Glides, Moonshine lures, and rattle baits.
“Northern pike anglers are doing well with northern suckers and large shiners under tip-ups. Look for active pike around any old weed growth and set tip-ups just off the weeds and into deeper water, ideally 6-10 feet.
“For crappie anglers, deadsticking crappie minnows or rosy reds are a great bet for additional action.
“Panfish anglers should look to deeper lake basins in 24-30 feet and use tungsten jigs, ultra light Rippin’ Raps, and Acme spoons tipped with waxies and spikes.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses what mortality means to fisheries biologists.
“Whether you are a human or a fish, mortality is a scary word. To fish biologists, mortality means pretty much what it sounds like – the proportion of fish that die in the lake.
“Most often, biologists measure mortality in fish populations on an annual scale. Determining mortality can be extremely important, as this statistic can tell a biologist if overfishing is occurring or can point to other problems in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, it is very challenging to obtain this statistic.
“Mortality has two components: Fishing mortality, the proportion of all fish removed by sport, tribal, and commercial fishing; and natural mortality, the proportion of all fish that die by some other means. There can be many different causes of natural mortality, including starvation, winterkill, oxygen depletion, predation, disease, heat stress, and more.
“Accurately estimating both fishing and natural mortality requires a lot of work that includes an estimate of the total number of fish in the population and some type of creel survey to estimate the number of harvested fish. Because it is so expensive to do both of these things, biologists typically are able to obtain true estimates of mortality only for high profile fisheries such as for walleye in northern Wisconsin, lake trout in Lake Superior, and sturgeon in the Winnebago system.”

The DNR now has 2019 state park admission stickers and trail passes on sale – and state properties will honor them through the remainder of 2018. The stickers and passes make excellent Christmas gifts outdoor enthusiasts can use throughout the year. Admission stickers cost $28 for residents and $38 for nonresidents. Households registering more than one vehicle can purchase additional stickers for $15.50 for residents and $20.50 for nonresidents. Residents 65 and older can purchase senior citizen annual stickers for $13. Annual trail passes cost $25 for residents and nonresidents. For more information, search “sticker” on the DNR website.

The DNR’s Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey continues through the end of all deer seasons and the DNR encourages hunters to submit reports of their observations while in the field. This data improves population estimates for Wisconsin’s deer herd and other species. For more information, search “deer hunter wildlife” on the DNR website.

If you would like to cut your own Christmas tree from Flambeau River State Forest or Brule River State Forest, pick up a $5 permit at the respective forest office. The trees are for personal use only, permits include several conditions, and each property may have specific conditions. Generally, people must cut trees flush to the ground and cannot cut trees near roads, trails, lakes, or within designated recreation areas. For more information, contact Flambeau River State Forest at (715) 332-5271, or Brule River State Forest at (715) 372-5678.

FISHING REPORT
Ice thickness continues to grow with the cold nights and is as thick as 10 inches in a FEW areas. Ice is never 100 percent safe, so use common sense and caution when going onto the ice. Some anglers are taking ATVs/UTVs and snowmobiles, but do so only in areas you know and after checking the ice thickness. No reason to take chances – fishing is good and most of the season remains! There is minimal snow cover on the lakes at this time and travel conditions are very good. Check with your favorite shop for the most current, up-to-the-minute ice conditions and fishing information.

Walleye:
Walleye action is good, with best success in early morning hours or during the last light of the evening. Fish near shallower vegetation areas in 5-8 feet. The most productive offerings include walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups, jigging spoons, rattle baits, Jigging Raps, Moonshine lures, and Hyper-Glides.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike action is good for anglers fishing in and around weeds and vegetation in 4-12 feet, working shallow near-shore areas and weed edges. Top baits include northern suckers, walleye suckers, and large shiners under tip-ups.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is good to very good in 14-20 feet and anglers are icing some nice catches. Use crappie minnows, rosy reds, and plastics on small jigs, or try deadsticking crappie minnows and rosy reds.

Bluegill:
Bluegill fishing is fair to good in deep basins and in depths varying from 5-30 feet. Anglers are also picking up some perch in these areas. Best bait choices include waxies, spikes, and plastics on tungsten jigs, small jigging baits, and spoons tipped with live bait.

The extended forecast (for what it is worth) shows highs in the low 30s for this week and next, with few chances of precipitation. The following two weeks indicate highs in the low to mid 20s, also with few expectations for precipitation. This will continue through much of January, with indications of some days in the 30s during the month.

“Now that we are into December,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “it appears we are in for a long, productive ice fishing season. There are safe walking ice conditions on several lakes, but always use caution, and we are still a long way from heavy vehicle traffic. Stories of vehicles breaking through first-ice never fail to amaze and vehicles have already broken through some Wisconsin lakes.
“In this area, lakes have 6-8 inches of ice, but deeper lakes with larger water volume will not be as safe, so again, use caution. Right now, small to mid-size shallower lakes are most suitable for safe ice fishing on foot and often the most productive lakes this time of year.
“Walleyes are showing up in the late afternoon into past dark – and please be selective if taking some fish for a meal. Northern pike and bass are moving during the daytime hours.
“Anglers fishing around weeds in 10-18 feet report good success catching nice mixes of panfish and occasional predator fish. Crappies seem to be a later afternoon bite, but are here and there throughout the day. Tip-ups are seeing lots of action in shallower water near shorelines. A good presentation is a 1/32-oz. jig tipped with a crappie minnow or a couple waxies. A nice set-up is a jigging-stick hole and next to it a dead-stick hole with a crappie minnow under a float fished 1/4 of the way up off the bottom.”

Erik at Hayward Bait says anglers are getting on the ice, with many lakes having at least a solid 4 inches or more of ice and some with up to 8 inches.
“Still, on any new body of water you decide to get on, err on the side of caution. With the low over-night temperatures, anglers should start to have a larger variety of lakes to ice fish.
“Walleye anglers should look for steep breaklines and points close to deep water and set tips-ups with small shiners or walleye suckers, and jigging can be extremely effective for walleyes in the early ice time of year. Jigging Raps, Hyper Glides, and other various styles of spoons work quite well, and try tipping these jigging lures with fathead minnow heads to seal the deal on walleye.
“Northern pike are fairly active and many anglers report some success just off weed edges fishing large shiners or northern suckers under tip-ups.
“Many anglers are chasing panfish and the fish are providing a solid bite. Panfish anglers are finding both crappies and bluegills as shallow as 16 feet to as deep as 26 feet.
“Schooled panfish tend to move often, so the key to success is to drill holes and keep moving. Tungsten jigs tipped with plastics and/or waxies and spikes are the baits of choice.”

Mike at Jenk’s says the Chippewa Flowage ice depth is about 7 inches.
“A few northern pike anglers say there is a decent pike bite on the west side, primarily on shiners, with the bays of Chief Lake offering the most action.
“The crappie bite is ‘okay,’ but as of yet there are no feeding frenzies, with crappie minnows and tungsten jigs the most popular presentations. Most action reports are from Scott Lake, although Pine Point and Moore’s Bay are also always popular spots this time of year.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses ice fishing walleye mortality.
“A new study conducted in Canada sheds light on a topic that worries many Wisconsin anglers: What is the mortality of walleyes released by ice fishing anglers? To answer that question, researchers caught fish through the ice using a variety of angling methods and released them into an underwater pen to track their survival.
“Researchers noted that anglers using active methods (jigging) were less likely to hook fish deeply, which improved survival odds. Anglers catching walleyes with passive methods (tip-ups) were more likely to hook fish deeply. Overall mortality of released fish was slightly less than 7 percent.
“The researchers determined hook type did not make a difference in survival odds, nor did the depth of the fish or the air temperature at the time of the catch. Cutting the line on deeply hooked fish, as opposed to removing the hook, appeared to improve survival, but the result was not statistically significant.
“Results from the study show catch and release mortality on walleyes caught through the ice is generally low, but there are things anglers can do, by modifying the methods they use, to improve survival of released fish. This might be particularly important on lakes with slot limits or lakes where you expect to catch many walleyes smaller than the minimum size limit.”

If you cannot sleep Thursday and Friday nights Dec. 13-14, get out of bed, wander outside, and if the sky is clear, view the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, according to the American Meteor Society. The Geminid is currently the most dependable meteor shower and would be more popular if it peaked in August – cold weather puts a damper on viewing interest. Meteor activity is impressive for several nights prior to the peak, but drops quickly after December 14. There are periods when there is little activity, but during other periods, meteors fall constantly and observers might see up to 120 multi-colored meteors per hour. For more information, visit the American Meteor Society (www.amsmeteors.org).

FISHING REPORT
Anglers are on the ice, with walking the wise and safest choice, even with reports of a few taking ATV/UTVs and, in some cases, vehicles. Again, the safe and wise choice is walking – ice depth reports range from 4-8 inches and you should definitely check the thickness as you go. On your way to the lake, stop at your favorite bait and tackle shop for the most current reports on ice conditions and fishing information.

Walleye:
Walleye fishing is best in late afternoon into after dark, with daytime fishing okay during overcast days. Concentrate on weedlines and weed edges, breaklines, and points adjacent to deeper water. Best success is coming on walleye suckers and shiners on tip-ups, though jigging spoons tipped with fathead heads are also producing good action.

Northern Pike:
Northern pike fishing is good in/on weeds and weed edges during the day, with shiners and northern suckers under tip-ups the baits of choice.

Crappie:
Crappie fishing is fair to good, with late afternoon offering the best action. Work weed areas in depths from 6-28 feet, with plans to be mobile – you have to move to stay on the fish. Use jigs tipped with crappie minnows, waxies, and plastics suspended under a small float suspending the bait just off the bottom – but search the entire water column!

Bluegill:
Bluegills are hitting throughout the day, but better in late afternoon hours. Look for weeds and cover in about the same depths as for crappie – 6-28 feet – and use jigs tipped with waxies, spikes, and plastics.

The forecast for this week indicates average to slightly below average temperatures and a few chances for mostly light snow (but always subject to change!) The average temperatures for this time in December include highs in the upper 20s and lows in the lower double-digits. Lack of snow cover is helping lake ice set up solid for anglers, but snowmobilers and skiers would like to see some snow accumulation.

Reminder: The application deadline is next Monday Dec. 10 for 2019 spring turkey and bear permits.

Ken at Hayward Bait says ice fishing is in full swing, with anglers reporting ice depths of three to seven inches on area lakes.
“Anglers and others going on the ice should be aware of current and other variables that might affect the ice depth.
“Many anglers are using tip-ups with treble hook rigs to target northern pike and walleyes around weed beds, weed humps, and shallower rock, with walleyes hitting on tip-ups, jigging spoons, and jigs. Daytime fishing is good during lower barometric periods and the last couple of hours of daylight offer the best chances. A number of anglers report catching northern pike more than 35 inches long.
“There is a good crappie bite going on, but the fish travel and you have to stay on the move for the best success. Look for panfish holding on outside weedlines and near muck bottoms where there are hatches of nymphs and other insects.
“Deer hunters still have time to get their deer during the muzzleloader and late archery seasons.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses angler preferences from an online questionnaire.
“Nearly 500 anglers responded to an online questionnaire developed to get feedback from Hayward area anglers about species preferences, management preferences, and harvest vs. catch and release (C+R). The survey yielded interesting results on whether anglers prefer harvest or catch and release oriented management for different species.
“For walleye, 9 percent of anglers preferred a strong C+R emphasis for walleye, while 32 percent preferred a harvest emphasis. Most walleye anglers preferred an emphasis that balanced both C+R and harvest. Reading between the lines, this matches a slot limit that allows harvest of smaller fish and protects larger females.
“Results were almost identical for black crappie, with 9 percent of anglers preferring C+R, 37 percent harvest, and 54 percent balance.
“As one would expect, C+R was the dominant response for muskellunge (84 percent), but 5 percent of respondents preferred a harvest emphasis and 11 percent wanted a balance.
“Similarly, there was a surprising amount of harvest interest for smallmouth bass. While 46 percent preferred C+R for smallmouth, 12 percent preferred a harvest-oriented emphasis, and 42 percent preferred a balance.
“Largemouth bass was the most evenly divided species for preferences. Of the surveyed anglers, 30 percent preferred C+R, 34 percent preferred a harvest emphasis, and 36 percent preferred a balance. Worth noting is that many popular lakes in the Hayward area have seen an overabundance of small largemouth bass in recent years and as such the results are likely unique to the Hayward area and probably do not reflect angler attitudes across the state.”

The application deadline for 2019 bear and spring turkey permits is December 10. To receive a kill permit for one of these species, you must submit an application by the deadline and be a drawing winner. You can submit applications through authorized license agents, DNR service centers, online, or by calling (877) 945-4236. Paper applications are no longer available. The 2019 spring wild turkey season runs April 17 through May 28, with six periods in seven zones. The 2019 Youth Turkey Hunt is April 13-14, prior to the start of the regular season. Wisconsin’s 2019 black bear season runs Sept. 4 through Oct. 8 in four management zones, with regulations covering varied hunting methods within those seasons. For more information, search “turkey” and “bear” on the DNR website.

Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer hunt ended November 25, but hunters can still participate in the muzzleloader season, archery and crossbow seasons, and two antlerless-only gun hunts. These hunts offer hunters an opportunity to extend their deer season and fill any unused deer tags. Muzzleloader deer season opened Nov. 26 and runs through Dec. 5. The annual statewide four-day, antlerless-only hunt is Dec. 6-9. Hunters may fill any unused antlerless tags while hunting in the proper zone, unit, and land type specified on the tag. There is an antlerless-only holiday hunt in 17 farmland units Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. These antlerless-only seasons are in units with high deer numbers needing antlerless harvest to slow overall herd growth. Archery and crossbow seasons remain open through January 6 statewide and through the end of January in some metro sub-units. For more information, search “DMU” on the DNR website.
The Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey continues through the end of all deer seasons and DNR wildlife managers encourage hunters taking advantage of these extra seasons to submit reports of their observations in the field. This valuable data improves population estimates for Wisconsin’s deer herd and other species. For more information, search “deer hunter wildlife” on the DNR website.

If you would like to cut your own Christmas tree, you can do so from Flambeau River State Forest or Brule River State Forest after picking up a $5 permit at the respective forest offices. The trees are for personal use only, permits include several conditions, and each property may have specific conditions depending on the property type. Generally, people cannot cut trees near roads, trails, lakes, or within designated recreation areas, and must cut trees flush to the ground. For more information, contact the Flambeau River State Forest office at (715) 332-5271 or the Brule River State Forest office at (715) 372-5678.

FISHING REPORT
Ice depths are increasing, with reports of up to 7 inches on some area lakes, but it is still iffy on some waterbodies. As should always be the case, use extreme caution (even more so at this time) when you are fishing or recreating on the ice. Walleye anglers are having some decent success fishing walleye suckers and minnows on jigs, tip-ups, and jigging spoons in late afternoon into dark. During the day, northern pike are actively hitting northern suckers and anglers are taking some nice fish. Look for both species in and around weeds, weed beds, humps, and rock. There is a good crappie bite, but once you find the fish – concentrate on weedlines, weed edges, and muck bottoms – plan on moving to stick with them.

Following this week’s cold start, the forecast predicts somewhat moderate temperatures and possible snow accumulation of up to four inches Wednesday through Thursday. After dealing with single-digit lows Monday and Tuesday, highs in the 30s the end of the week will feel almost tropical! (Almost...)

The Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau 2019 Vacation Guide is now available. The North Woods and the greater Hayward area of Sawyer County is a great place to visit at any time of the year, offering an extremely wide variety of outdoor activities for all seasons, as well as something for just about any area of interest. Pick up your guide at the Hayward Information Center or view it online at the HLVCB website www.haywardlakes.com.

Trent at Hayward Bait says there is as noticeable increase in anglers expressing interest in ice fishing.
“Most anglers are reporting 4-5 inches of ice in the bays and on the smaller lakes, but there is still open water or thin ice in the middle of larger and/or deeper lakes. People who decide to go on the ice should certainly be very cautious.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses fisheries induced evolution.
“Natural selection, when you boil it down, is an elegantly simple concept. There are any number of factors that can prevent a fish from living long enough to successfully reproduce and pass on its genes. Fish that do not overcome these factors will not pass on their genes. Fish that do survive these factors and reproduce will pass on their genes.
“When it comes to fish, angler harvest is one of the natural selection factors. Research is showing that fishing might even be a big enough factor to drive changes in how fish are evolving, a concept known as ‘fisheries induced evolution.’ Researchers believe they are already seeing the effects on commercially harvested marine species.
“The common trend in fisheries induced evolution is for fish to mature earlier and have a smaller size, both of which are responses to mortality levels that are higher than what they naturally encountered before commercial fishing. In essence, the fish population is responding evolutionarily to this new factor.
“Fish that breed early, before they might be harvested, are now more successful and pass on their genes at a higher rate. There is evidence of fisheries induced evolution in freshwater populations, too.
“Research has found that a fish’s ‘aggressiveness’ is to some extent genetic and fish that are genetically more aggressive are likely to be the first ones anglers catch. This removes those aggressive genes from the gene pool, leaving behind fish that are genetically more passive or wary.
“This may be one explanation for why fishing is so much better ‘off the beaten path’ in areas that get very little fishing pressure. It is not necessarily that there are more fish, but that the populations with less exposure to harvest may have individuals that are more aggressive.”

Hayward’s 3rd annual A Lure of Lights “Chilly” Cook-off & Winter Beer Bar is Saturday Dec. 22 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. on Main Street. Local legends submit their best chili recipes for you to enjoy and judge. Cast your ballot for your favorite and help determine the next Chili Champ! For those 21 years of age and older, The Whistle Punk will be serving up your favorite winter brews. There will be fun games for the family and s’mores pits as always. There is no cost for the games and s’mores pits thanks to the generous sponsors. Cost for chili and/or the beer bar is $5-$15 and all proceeds go to A “Lure” of Lights. If you think your chili recipe has what it takes, submit your entry at www.alureoflights.com/event-registration. The entry fee is $10. You are responsible for providing a crock pot and serving spoon for your chili. Awards are as follows: 1st Place- $100 in local dining; 2nd Place- $50 in local dining; 3rd Place- $25 in local dining;

Beginning Dec. 17, campers booking a campsite at Wisconsin State Park System properties will use a new, improved, and less expensive reservation system. The DNR is contracting with a new provider, Camis USA, Inc., that received the reservation contract through a competitive bidding process. All reservations previously booked through Reserve America will automatically transfer to the new system. Prior to Nov. 30, customers should make sure their email, postal address, and phone numbers are up to date in the existing Reserve America system. This information will also transfer to the new reservation system. To allow for transfer of existing reservations to the new system, the system will be down Dec. 1-16 and will not take reservations. Prior to Dec. 17, customers can log into the new system through the DNR website to set up their accounts and view their current reservations. Campers who made reservations in the past using Reserve America only need to set up accounts in the new system. Users will now pay $7.75 to make a reservation, compared to the current $9.65 fee. The new system also accommodates reservations for shelters and amphitheaters. Campers can call or go online to make reservations for sites up to 11 months in advance. For more information, search “camping in state parks” on the DNR website.

Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area will offer carnivore tracking and wolf ecology workshops Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8-9, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The state’s wolf monitoring program relies on volunteers to help track animals each winter and DNR biologists and volunteers provide classes on wolf ecology, population biology, and field study. Carnivore tracking classes focus on identifying tracks of medium to large carnivores. Wolf ecology and management classes cover the history of wolves in Wisconsin, wolf biology and ecology, population monitoring, research, and management. Students must complete both classes to participate in the wolf program as a volunteer tracker. The courses (limited to 40 participants) require pre-registration. To register, call (715) 463-2739. Lodging is available at Luther Point Bible Camp. To reserve a cabin, call (715) 689-2347. For more information, search “carnivore tracking” on the DNR website.

FISHING REPORT
Reports on ice thickness vary, with some saying up to five inches, but a few anglers are already trying their luck – as well as testing it. If you go – and there is plenty of ice fishing season remaining – go with a friend, go prepared, and make safety you number one priority. Check with your favorite bait shop before going on the ice and ask about the current conditions, which can change overnight. These knowledgeable folks can tell you where to go for the best success – and perhaps more importantly, where NOT to go! Fishing reports will return/expand as conditions improve.

The forecast for this week offers a wide variety of weather options (other than balmy, 70-degree days), with everything from rain to snow, sun to clouds, and temperatures ranging from single-digit nights to 40-something daytime highs. At this time, conditions look good Wednesday through Thursday for people traveling for Thanksgiving celebrations. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Most lakes have thin layers of ice,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “signaling the end of open water fishing.
“A cold front moving in a couple weeks ago brought some well below average temperatures, ice began forming in the bays, and there is good snow cover along with the cold. About the only activity on the lakes now is from cabin owners removing their docks that are stuck in the ice.
“By no means does this mean it is time to start ice fishing! The ice is not yet thick enough to walk on and is not safe. Safe walking ice occurs when it reaches three to four inches thick. Even then, no ice is ‘safe’ ice, so have a friend and equipment available with you in case of an emergency. Be patient and do not rush it – we do not need early ice (or any!) casualty reports.
“Bow deer season has been open for awhile and gun deer season opened this past Saturday, November 17. Anyone walking in the woods or on the roads should wear some orange or bright colored covering. Enjoy a safe and uneventful hunting season and have a Happy Thanksgiving!”

Erik at Hayward Bait says the woods is alive and there is still some open water, though small bays are gaining ice making momentum, and there are numerous options for outdoors enthusiasts.
“Many anglers have stored their boats for the winter, but some anglers are still getting out on big water or lakes with accessible boat landings.
“Musky anglers continue to catch fish on suckers and by trolling. Walleye anglers are catching fish on jigs and walleye suckers, and panfish anglers report success with crappie minnows on jigs and aggressively fishing plastics.
“With the cold temperatures, a few lakes are starting to freeze over and a few anglers report some small, protected bays with up to three inches of ice. It is necessary to use extreme caution on this early ice and safety is most important.
“If you decide to look for safe ice, take a friend, spud bar, life jackets, rope, ice picks, and if you have one, wear a floatation suit. If cold nights continue and highs barely break the 30s, there could be solid ice going into Thanksgiving weekend.
“There is a solid number of deer in the woods this year. Some bucks are past rut and some bucks are still chasing does. Consider using a doe in estrous scent wick, as it also makes a great cover scent.
“Grouse hunters report finding fair numbers of grouse, primarily around trees holding fruits and berries.”

This week, DNR fisheries biologist Max Wolter discusses guide and angler involvement in the musky PIT tag project.
“Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) have become a very common and useful tool in muskellunge research and management. In Sawyer County, more than 23,000 muskellunge have received PIT tags.
“Local guides and anglers recruited to aid with recapturing tagged muskellunge received scanners. Hayward Lakes Chapter-Muskies Inc. generously supports this effort by purchasing tags and scanners and training members on their use.
“To date, there have been 914 recaptures of tagged muskellunge and the involvement of citizen data collectors in this project is huge. Guides and anglers have accounted for 90 of these recaptures (about 10 percent), with DNR crews accounting for the remainder during netting and shocking surveys. With more guides entering the project in 2018, it seems likely their data contribution will grow.
“The role of guides and anglers has expanded as well. Starting in 2018, five guides and anglers received permits to PIT tag the muskellunge they capture. This provides more tags in more muskies, including in locations DNR crews seldom go for surveys. In 2018, guides PIT tagged enough adult muskellunge to supplement DNR efforts by 50 percent.
“An unanticipated benefit of involving guides is an increase in very rare and valuable data on tiger muskellunge (northern pike/muskellunge hybrids). Surveys crews rarely capture tiger muskies and anglers catch them more often. Anglers contributed to two recaptures of tiger muskies in 2018 by either tagging or recapturing the fish.
“We thank the guides and anglers who have offered their time and expertise to this project.”

Ruffed grouse hunters should note the 2018 ruffed grouse season in Zone A closes Dec. 31 following the passage of an emergency rule. Emergency rules are effective for 150 days, so this early closure applies only to the 2018-19 season. This change does not affect Zone B season dates (Oct. 20 through Dec. 8), and bag limits remain five birds in Zone A and three birds in Zone B. For more information, search “ruffed grouse hunting” on the DNR website.

Each year, the Deer Donation Program donates thousands of pounds of venison to food pantries to help families in need by working through the efforts of hunters, meat processors, food pantries, and the DNR. Established in 2000, the program has since distributed more than 91,000 deer and more than 3.6 million pounds of processed venison to food pantries statewide. To donate deer, hunters should know the location of a nearby participating processor, call ahead to make sure the processor is prepared to accept the deer, and if CWD testing is necessary. For more information, including a list of participating processors and CWD sampling requirements, search “deer donation” on the DNR website.

The DNR encourages hunters of all ages who head out for their first hunt to mark the occasion with a free first harvest and/or first hunting experience certificate. Include a photograph of your special moment, along with details about the experience, to help preserve hunting memories with friends and family. Fill out information regarding when and where you harvested the animal for display on the customized certificate. The DNR sends certificates electronically within a few weeks. For more information, visit www.dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/firstcert.html on the DNR website.

FISHING REPORT
Ice is building quickly on North Wood’s lakes, with reports of 3-4 inches in some areas, such as protected bays. However, inconsistency is common with early ice and four inches in one place can change to 1/4-inch only a few feet distant, especially with snow cover. If you “have” to go, go prepared, with a friend, and use extreme caution. While some open water remains and a few anglers continue chasing musky (season closes Nov. 30), walleye, and crappie, this is a very short-term proposition, with single-digit nights providing excellent “ice growing” conditions.

For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 800-724-2992.
]]>Hayward Lakes AreaHayward Lakes Sherryhttp://www.outdoors911.com/reports/showthread.php?52163-Outdoor-Report-November-19-2018